Chapter 14
That Gets His Attention
His hands still in their movement
on my back; he holds me
gingerly, like I'm a bomb that
will explode if he's not careful.
What? he whispers, sounding
like he can't quite believe his
ears. What did you say, Inoue? I
take a deep breath, trying to force
the words through my grateful
tears. "I said I love you, Ichigo.
I always have and I probably
always will." I hold my breath,
afraid of what he'll say. Afraid
he'll reject me – after all, I am
broken beyond repair. [He doesn't
know that.] All my thought processes
still when his arms close tightly
around my body. You do? he says
disbelievingly. You do? Please
say you're not screwing with me,
Inoue. I shake my head, my eyes
still closed. "I'm not. I promise."
There's a moment of silence, which
he breaks. Orihime. Surprised by the
use of my first name, I turn to
look at him, lifting my head, eyes
wide. I'm about to ask him
why he called me that, since
he's never done it before, when
he kissed me.
On
any
other
day
I would have loved it.
In
any
other
circumstance
I would have kissed back.
But
all
I
saw
when I closed my eyes
was
him.
Ulquiorra.
I hope you enjoyed that.
His
hand
in
my
shirt.
He tasted like grapes; the fresh ones, the cold ones.
His
eyes
on
my
body.
I liked you better without them.
Him,
inside
me.
I hope you enjoyed that.
I
hope
you
enjoyed
that
.
I couldn't kiss Ichigo
when
all
I
could
taste
was the zing of cold grapes
when
all
I
could
feel
was the cold bone helmet
when
all
I
could
see
were his eyes
p
e
n
e
t
r
a
t
i
n
g
me.
I broke away with a gasp
and
ran
.